Arrived in Tsaritsyn on the 6th. (1) Despite the confusion in every sphere of economic life, order can be
established.

In Tsaritsyn, Astrakhan and Saratov the grain monopoly and fixed prices
were abolished by the Soviets; and there is chaos and profiteering. Have
secured the introduction of rationing and fixed prices in Tsaritsyn. The
same must be done in Astrakhan and Saratov, otherwise all grain will
flow away through these profiteering channels. Let the Central
Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars also demand
that these Soviets put a stop to profiteering.

Rail transport is completely dislocated owing to the efforts of the
multiplicity of collegiums and revolutionary committees. I have been
obliged to appoint special commissars; they are already establishing
order despite the protests of the collegiums. The commissars are
discovering heaps of locomotives in places where the collegiums did not
suspect their existence. Investigation has shown that eight or more
through trains a day can be sent by the
Tsaritsyn-Povorino-Balashov-Kozlov-Ryazan-Moscow line. Am now
accumulating trains in Tsaritsyn. Within a week we shall proclaim a "Grain Week" and shall dispatch to Moscow right away about one million
poods with a special escort of railwaymen, of which I shall give you
due notice.

The hold-up in river transport is due to the fact that Nizhni-Novgorod
has not been sending steamers, presumably because of the Czechoslovaks. Give orders that steamers be sent to Tsaritsyn immediately.

We have information that in the Kuban, in Stavropol, there are fully
reliable purchasing agents who are busy getting out the grain from the
South. A line is already being laid from Kizlyar to the sea; the Hasav
YurtPetrovsk line has not yet been restored. Let us have Shlyapnikov,
civil engineers, intelligent workmen, also locomotive crews.

Have sent a messenger to Baku, and shall be leaving for the South myself
in a day or two. Chief Trade Agent Zaitsev will be arrested today for
bag-trading and speculating in government goods. Tell Schmidt not to
send any more scoundrels. Let Kobozev see to it that the five-man
collegium in Voronezh (2) in its own interests does not create difficulties
for my agents.

It is reported that Bataisk has been captured by the Germans.

People's Commissar
Stalin

(1) On May 29, 1918, the Council of Peoples Commissars appointed
J.V.Stalin General Director of Food Affairs in South Russia. His mandate
read:

"People's Commissar Jospeh Vissarioniovich Stalin, Member of the
Council of Peoples Commissars has been appointed by the Council of
Peoples Commissars General Director of Food Affairs in South Russia and
is vested with extraordinary powers. Local and regional Councils of
Peoples Commissars Soviets, Revolutionary Committees, military staffs
and chiefs of detachments, railway organizations and station masters,
organisations of the river and maritime merchant fleet, post and
telegraph, and food organizations and all commissars and emissaries are
hereby ordered to carry out the instructions of Comrade Stalin.

Chairman,
Council of Peoples Commissars

"V.Ulyanov (Lenin)".

(2) The five-man collegium was the administrative and technical
directing body of the Boars of the Moscow-Kiev-Voronezh other
railways with head offices in Voronezh.